Method for producing adapters



Oct. 24, 1939. w. J. GAzl-:Y 2,176,993

UC I NG ADAPTERS Filed Dec. 24, 19:57 2 sheets-sheet 1 9 I y E5 51 48 MM\M h'e: i; 32

z? 5g f mm Oct. 24, 1939. w. J. GAZEY 2,176,993

METHOD FOR PRODUCING ADAPTERS Filed Deo. 24, 1937 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented ocr. 24, 1939 PATENT OFFICE 2,176,993 METHOD ron PnonUomG ADAPTERS William J. Gazey, Waterbury, Conn., assigner to Chase Brass & Copper Co., Incorporated, Waterbury, Conn., a corporation of Connecticut Application December 24, 1937, Serial No. 181,560

8 Claims.

This invention relates to an improvement in methods for producing adapters for interconnecting the threaded terminals of fluid-ducts such as pipes, pipe-fittings, etc., with the unthreaded terminals of other fluid-ducts, such for instance as tubes, tube-fittings, etc., which latter are designed to be connected in place by soldering or the like.

One of the objects of the present invention is to provide a superior method whereby adapters of the character referred to may be produced at a low cost of manufacture.

A further object of the present invention is to provide a superior method whereby adapters of a strong, accurate and non-porous character may be economically produced.

, With the above and other objects in view, as will appear to lthose skilled in the art from the present disclosure, this invention includes all features in the said disclosure which are novel over the prior art.

In the accompanying drawings, in which certain modes of carrying out the present invention are, shown for illustrative purposes:

Fig. 1 is a viewvpartly in side elevation and partly in vertical central section of a first-stage cast blank from which a second-stage blank and ultimately a finished adapter may be made in accordance with the present invention;

Fig. 2 is an end view thereof Fig. 3 is a schematic sectional view illustrating a forging-die assembly just after the said dies have been brought together to forge the first-v stage cast blank of Figs. 1 and 2 into a secondstage wrought-metal blank which is shown in central vertical section;

Fig. 4 is a view looking toward one end of the second-stage blank;

Fig. 5 is a view partly in side elevation and partly in vertical central section showing a completed male-thread adapter;

' Fig. 6 is an end view thereof;

Fig. '7 is a view partly in side elevation and partly in vertical central section of a femalethread adapter produced in accordance with the present invention; and

Fig. 8 is an end view thereof.

In carrying out the present invention as herein shown, I cast a tubular blank, generally designated by the reference character 20, of brass or other suitable material, and preferably ,having a composition of about 95% copper and 5% zinc, since this alloy lends itself readily to the carrying out of the steps of the present invention and has good machining and soldering characteristics,

The cast blank 20 may for convenience of description be designated as a first-stage blank and will necessarily be more or less porous in character and quite readily penetrated by fluids under high pressure, such for instance as refrigerating 5 gases.

The said first-stage blank 20 comprises a blank of metal having greater weight and greater dimensions than the desired weight and dimensions of the finished adapter, and the blank is cast to 10 provide portions approximating the conformation of portions of the finished adapter. The said first-stage blank includes an axial passage 2| of substantially-cylindrical form extending throughout the length of the said blank. The said blank' l5 as cast, see particularly Fig. l, also includes 'an outer annular band-portion 22 of octagonal or other polygonal form and located about midway the length of the said cast blank, though preferably slightly nearer to the inner end 23 of the 20 said blank than to the outer end 24 of the blank. The outer surface of the portion 25 of the cast blank lying between the polygonal band-portion 22 and the outer end 24 is preferably, and as shown in Figs. 1 and 2, tapered outwardly and in- 25 wardly while the outer surface of the portion 26 on the opposite side of the band-portion 22 is tapered so as to slope reversely from the slope of the portion 25, that is to say, inwardly and toward the end 23 of the said blank.

The tubular blank 20 is now preferably sub- Jected to a Sandblasting operation or other suitable mechanical cleaning operation, and is then thoroughly pickled in a suitable bath of acid or other cleaning medium, to remove scale and 35 oxides, etc.

After having been thoroughly cleaned, the cast blank 20 is slowly heated to a temperature between about 1550" F. and 1750" F. Preferably, the heating is done in a suitable furnace having a 40 reducing or non-oxidizing atmosphere. The cast blank is now removed from the furnace after having reached the desired temperature, and is quickly placed in a lower die-assembly, generally designated by the reference character 21 in Fig. 45 3. The said cast blank 20 is then promptly crushed between the said die-assembly and a second or upper die-assembly, generally designated by the reference character 28, to thereby use to advantage the increased molecular activity 50 induced by the heating of the said blank.

When the two die-assemblies 21 and 28 are brought together in any approved manner to compress the so-called first-stage cast blank 20 therebetween, the said blank is converted into 55 what may for convenience of description be termed a second-stage or wrought-metal blank, generally designated by the reference character 29 shown in Figs. 3 and 4. This second-stage blank vincludes an annular band-portion 30 lof octagonal or other polygonal form from the upper edge of which extends a iin-like radial ash 3|. The second-stage blank has two tubular portions 32 and 33, the'outside surfaces of which taper laterally inwardly and away from the said bandportion 30, and having their respective interior bores 34 and 35 substantially partitioned oi from each other by a diaphragm-like section 36 of inwardly-displaced metal. The coming-together of the die-assemblies 21 and 28 serves not only to consolidate and reduce the porosity of what was initially a larger and relatively-porous cast blank 20, but also serves to reduce both the longitudinal and lateral dimensions of the cast blank into the relatively-smaller second-stage blank 29 above referred to.

The die-assembly 21 includes a die-block 31 having an outwardly-and-upwardly-tapering cavity 38 therein which is enlarged at its upper end to provide a recess or cavity 39 of octagonal or other polygonal form to receive the octagonal band-portion 22 and to shape the same into the nished octagonal band-portion 30 of the secondstage link 29. Leading out of the bottom of the tapered cavity 38 in the die-block 31 is a cylindrical socket 40 receiving the cylindrical baseportion 4| of a mandrel generally designated by the reference character 42 and including also an inwardly-and-upwardly-tapering plug-portion 43 which enters the bore` 34 in the interior of the blank 29 and serves to consolidate the metal of the blank in conjunction with the other features of the two die-assemblies 21 and 28.

The upper die-assembly 28 includ es a die-block 44 having a downwardly-and-laterally-outwardly-tapering recess 45 generally corresponding to the recess 38 before described save that at its lower end itis merely slightly chamfered as at 46 to conform to the desired upper-edge contour of the polygonal band-portion 30 of the secondstage blank 29. Leading out of the upper end of thetapered recess 45 is a cylindrical socket 41 receiving the base-portion 48 of a mandrel generally designated by the reference character 49 and correspondingvgenerally to the mandrel 42 before referred to. The said mandrel 49 includes also a plug-portion 50 which extends in i .opposition to the plug-portion 43 of the mandrel 42 and enters the bore 35 in the blank 29,. The mandrel 49 is held in place in the die-block 44 by a bolt 5| extending axially therethrough, as clearly shown in Fig. 3, and in a similar manner, the mandrel 42 is held in place rigidly in its die-block 31 by means of a bolt 52 or other suitable fastening-means.

'Ihe second-stage blank 29, above referred to, may be subjected after its removal from the dieassemblies 21 and 28 to the action of atrimmingdie or the like to remove its annular dash-portion 3| and its interior partition-like portion 36, though it is preferred to remove the latter by a, screwmachine tool or the like. The interior bore 35 of the second-stage blank is machined out to provide a relatively-smooth interior bore 53 and a stop-shoulder 54 which together form a socket for the reception of an unthreaded tube which may be secured therein in accordance with well-known practice by a so-called sweating operation. The internal bore 34 of the secondstage blank 29 is also preferably machined out to provide a smooth-surfaced duid-passage 55 which is smaller in diameter than the bore 53 and intersects the annular stop-shoulder 54 thereof, as clearly shown in Fig. 5.

The end-portion 32 of the second-stage blank 29 is also exteriorly threaded as at 56 for being coupled to a standard pipe-fitting or the like, and the remaining exterior surfaces of the said second-stage blank may be finished in any desired manner.

As thus finished, the second-stage blank 29 assumes the form shown in Figs. 5 and 6 of the accompanying drawings, in which it will be noticed that the externally-threaded portion 56 extends to one side of the substantially-central polygonal band-portion 51, and that the interior socket provided by the bore 53 and the stopshoulder 54 is located at the other end of the completed adapter. v

As thus constructed and arranged, the adapter shown in Fig. 5 may be threaded into any interiorly-threaded pipe-fitting to couple thereto an unthreaded tube which may be telescoped within the bore 53 and seated against the annular stop-shoulder 54, after which it may besecured in place by sweat-soldering or the like. Furthermore, the adapter thus produced is so consolidated in texture as to be proof against the leakage of fluids such as high-pressure refrigerating gases or the like.

In Figs. 7 and 8 of the accompanying drawings, is shown a iinished female-thread adapter which may be'produced in accordance with the present invention and which includes'an axial bore 58 located mainly in one end of the adapter and partly separated from a similar bore 59 in the other end of the adapter by an annular stoprib 60 which is adapted to limit the telescopic Penetration of an unthreaded tube into the said bore 58. The outer end of the bore 59 is provided with threads 6| by means of which it may be coupled to an externally-threaded pipe, pipefitting or the like, and for convenience in threading it in place, the said adapter is provided about midway of Aits length upon its exterior with a central band-portion 62 which may be of octagonal or other suitable polygonal forrnwadapted to conveniently receive a wrench.

'I'he invention may be carried out in other specic Ways than those herein set forth without departing from the spirit and essential characteristics of the invention, and the present embodiments are, therefore, to be considered in all respects as illustrative and not restrictive, and all changes coming within the meaning and equivalency range of the appended claims are intended to be embraced therein.

I claim:

1. A method for producing adapters by processing metal composed principally of copper to both form and transform a blank to provide endportions intercommunicating at a thickened intermediate portion and constituting an adapter for interconnecting fluid-ducts, the said method including: rst casting a tubular blank Ahaving rough-shaped-conformation to and being of greater'weight and greater dimensions than the nished adapter, the said cast blank being relatively-permeable and porous; subsequently subjecting the said cast tubular blank to a forging operation to consolidate its texture, reduce its dimensions and form a partition wall in its interior intermediate its respective opposite ends,

and to transform the rough-shaped relatively-l shape-finished, preme-resistant, uuid-tight m-v bular article; and then machining the said tubular article to remove its Asaid interior partition and to provide the said tubular article at one end with a threaded terminal and at its 4opposite end with a relatively-smooth socket for respective threaded engagement with and 4telescopic reception of a tube or tubulartting.

2. A method for producing adapters by processing metal composedprincipally of copper -to both form and transform a blank to provide endportions intercommunicating at a thickened intermediate portion and constituting an adapter for interconnecting fluid-ducts, the said method including: first casting a tubular blank having rough-shaped conformation to and being of greater weight and greater dimensions than the finished adapter, the said cast blank being relatively-permeable and porous;- subsequently subjecting the said cast tubular blank to a forging operation to consolidate its texteure, reduce its dimensions longitudinally and also laterally along the end-portions thereof and form a partition wall in its interior intermediate its respective opposite ends, and to transform the rough-shaped relatively-permeable and porous blank into a substantially shape-finished, pressure-resistant, fluid-tight tubular article; and then machining the said tubular article to remove its said interior partition and to provide the said tubular article at one end with a threaded terminal and at its opposite end with a relatively-smooth socket for respective threaded engagement with and telescopic reception of a tube or tubular fitting.

3. A method for producing adapters by processing metal composed principally of copper to both form and transform a blank to provide end-portions intercommunicating at a thickened intermediate portion and constituting an adapterfor interconnecting iiuid-ducts, the said method including: first casting a tubular blank having rough-shaped conformation to and being of greater weight and greater dimensions than the finished adapter, the said cast blank being relatively-permeable and porous; heating the said cast tubular blank; and subsequently subjecting the said cast tubular blank while hot to a forging operation to consolidate its texture, reduce its dimensions and form a partition wall in its interior intermediate yits respective opposite ends, and to transform the rough-shaped relativelypermeable and porous blank into a substantially shape-finished, pressure-resistant, fluid-tight tubular article while increased molecular activity due to heat obtains in the blank; and then machining the said tubular article to remove its said interior partition and to providethe said tubular article at one end with a threaded terminal and at its opposite Vend with a relatively-smooth socket for respective threaded engagement with and telescopic reception of a tube or tubular fitting. y

4. A method for producing adapters by processing metal composed principally of copper to both y form and transform a blank to provide end-portions intercommunicating at a thickened intermediate portion and constituting an adapter for interconnecting fluid-ducts, the said method including: first casting a tubular blank having rough-shaped conformation to and being of greater weight and greater dimensions than the finished adapter, the said cast blank being relatively-permeable and porous; heating the said cast tubular blank; and subsequently subjecting the said cast tubular blank While hot to a forging operation to consolidate its texture, reduce its dimensions longitudinally and also laterally along the end-portions thereof and form a -partition wall in its interior intermediate its respective opposite ends, and to transform the roughshaped relatively-permeable and porous blankinto a substantially shape-nished, pressure-resistant, fluid-tight tubular article while increased molecular activity due to heat obtains in the blank; and then machining the said tubular article to remove its said interior partition and to provide the said tubular article at one end with a threaded terminal and at its opposite end with a relativelysmooth socket for respective threaded engagement with and telescopic reception of a tube or tubular fltting.

5. A method for producing adapters by processing metal composed principally of copper to both form and transform a blank to provide end-portions intercommunicating at a thickened intermediate portion and constituting an adapter for interconnecting Huid-ducts, the said method including: first casting a tubular blank having rough-shaped conformation to and being of greater weight and greater dimensions than the finished adapter, the said cast blank being relatively-permeable and porous; treating the said cast tubular blank to substantially remove the scale therefrom; heating the now cleaned cast tubular blank in a reducing atmosphere; subsequently subjecting the cleaned cast tubular blank while hot to a forging operation to both consolidate its texture and reduce its dimensions, and to transform the rough-shaped relativelypermeable and porous blank into a substantially shape-finished, pressure-resistant, fiuid-tight tubular article while increased molecular activity due to heat obtains in the said blank; and then machining the said tubular article to form a threaded terminal at one of its ends and a relatively-smooth socket at its opposite end for respective threaded engagement with and telescopic reception of a tube or tubular fitting.

6. A method for producing adapters by processing metal composed principally of copper to both form and transform a blank to provide end-portions intercommunicating at a thickened intermediate portion and constituting an adapter for interconnecting fiuid-ducts, the said method including: first casting a tubular blank having rough-shaped conformation to and being of greater weight and greater dimensions than the finished adapter, the said cast blank being relatively-permeable and porous; treating the said cast tubular blank to substantially remove the scale therefrom; heating the now cleaned cast tubular blank in a reducing atmosphere; subsequently subjecting the cleaned cast tubular blank While hot to a forging operation to consolidate its texture and reduce its dimensions longitudinally and also laterally along the end-portions thereof, and to transform the rough-shaped relativelypermeable and porous blank into a substantially shape-finished. Pressure-resistant, fluid-tight tubular article while increased molecular activity due to heat obtains in the said blank; and then machining the said tubular article to form a threaded terminal at one of its ends and a relatively-smooth socket at its opposite end for respective threaded engagement with and telescopic reception of a tube or tubular fitting.

7. A method for producing adapters by processing metal composed principally of copper to both form and transform a blank to provide end-portions intercommunicating at a thickened intermediate portion and constituting an adapter. for interconnecting fluid-ducts, the said method including: iirst casting a tubular blank having rough-shaped conformation to and 'being of greater weight and greater dimensions than the nished adapter, the said cast blank being relatively-permeable and porous; treating th'e said cast tubular'blank to substantially remove the scale therefrom; heating the now cleaned cast tubular blank in a reducing atmosphere; subsequently subjecting the cleaned cast tubular blank while hot to a forging operation to consolidate its texture, reduce its dimensions and form a partition wall in its interior intermediate its respective opposite ends, and to transform the rough-shaped relatively-permeable and porous blank into a substantially shape-finished, pressure-resistant, uid-tight tubular article while increased molecular activity due to heat obtains in the said blank; and then machining the said tubular article to remove its said interior partition and to provide the said tubular article at one end with a threaded terminal and at its opposite end with a relatively-smoothsocket for respective threaded engagement with and telescopic reception of a tube or tubular tting.

8. A method for producing adapters izor processing metal composed principally of copper to both form and transform a blank to provide endportions intercommunicating ata thickened intermediate portion and constituting an adapter for interconnecting fluid-ducts, the said method including: iirst casting a tubular vblank having rough-shaped conformation to and being of greater weight and greater dimensions than the finished adapter, the saidcast blank being relaalso laterally along the end-portions thereof and.

form a partition wall in its interior intermediate its respective opposite ends, and to transform the rough-shaped relatively-permeable and porous blank into a substantially shape-iinished, pressure-resistant, duid-tight tubular article whiiel increased molecular activity due to heat obtains in the said blank; and then machining the said tubular article to remove, its said interior partition and to provide the said tubular article at one end with a threaded terminal and at its opposite end with a relatively-smooth socket for respective threaded engagement with and telescopic reception of a tube or tubular tting.

WILLIAM J. GAZEY. 

